FC Barcelona lost 1-0 against Real Betis at the Camp Nou on Saturday, leaving them further behind league leaders Real Madrid. Xavi, Jordi Alba and Riqui Puig all spoke after the match.
Here’s what Xavi had to say:
About the game
“We deserved more, it’s a shame not to have gotten something out of this game, it was there to be won. I am very angry with the goal, because we had worked on these types of plays. We did not deserve to lose.”
“I am proud of the team. I am not in favor of forcing Ansu, because we have many competitions this season and we want him to be 100%.”
“They did well, a 4-2-3-1 in attack and adjusted in defense with two defenders. Before the break I told Busquets to get three behind and let’s play with the wings up.”
“It was a game to win, although there are many things to improve.”
On Betis’ goal
“That goal should not have happened. These transitions must be stopped, we know that they activate very fast transitions.”
“That goal bothered me a lot, because we had worked on it. When we have such good minutes is when we have to kill the games.”
On the second half
“The second half was very good, we deserved to score a goal, if we had scored they would have had to change the system. On the day of the Villarreal game I was honest and said that they had been better, this time it was the other way around.”
On Memphis
“Memphis is giving us a lot, he makes runs and we are unable to find him. That’s why I said days ago that we have to be more aggressive in attack.”
On the Bayern game
“I have told the players that I am proud. Now we have to compete like animals to win in Munich. We have no choice but to go to win, then we will see. We depend on ourselves. But we are going to one of the most difficult stadiums in the world.”
On the starting eleven
“There are players who have played many minutes, Frenkie did not train on Thursday due to discomfort, Gerard has knee discomfort sometimes. We have high-level players to replace them. With Ousmane we have a plan already made. I have made the team designed to win. We have not succeeded, we suffered an unfair defeat, it is a shame.”
On Dembele
“He generates enthusiasm because he is a great player, we have protected him because there is risk. He is a differential player.”
On Araujo
“He is an extraordinary defender, he wins duels, he is good in the air. He understands the game at all times. We will help him to improve, but he is brutal, he is a rock . If we want to play with the defensive line in the center of the field it is a privilege to have him.”
Here’s what Jordi Alba had to say:
On the game
“In the first half we played a great game, with chances… and in the second, when we were at our best, we conceded.”
“We have to improve a lot. We need to have more patience when we have the ball in the opponent’s half.”
On the team and the Bayern game
“I am convinced that we will turn it around and that better results will come”.
“Now we have a very important game, for the club and for everyone, in the Champions League.”
Here’s what Riqui Puig had to say:
On the game
“In the second half we had clear chances, we left with a bitter taste due to the three points we lost, we have to continue, there is no other choice.”
On getting minutes in the first team
“Any footballer wants to play, I am getting them, I am happy. I feel like a footballer again, let’s see if the results accompany us, we can fight for the league and on Wednesday in the Champions League, I hope we qualify.”
On the game against Bayern
“We have three days to recover and go with everything to Munich to win. It is a final, we all believe, we are together and we will come forward.”
